Internal-combustion engine.



' 0.1. |vN-1NNsCo- INTERNAL coNBusTzo'N ENGINE. 4 APPLICATION FILED IAN. I0, 191km?. 1,270,481 Patented June 25, 1918. 02V4 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. J. MENASCO. INTERNAL coMusTmN ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JANNIO. 1911.

Patnted June 25, 1918.

C. 1. MENASCO. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION man 1AN.10.19|1.

Patented June 25, 1918.-

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Pogwex 4 sroke /44 Tf1/@sass titi narran srarns rnrnn'r ernten.

CHARLES J'. MENASCO, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO HOWARD A. MOSELEY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. i

.INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE. i

navenant.,

Application filed January 10, 1,917. Serial No. 141,632.

To all 177110111, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. MEN/asco, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

narily resulting rom but partial expansion` of the gases in the usual engine cylinder whose cubic area of expansion will not permit o1 complete expansion of the gases before they are exhausted.

A. further object of my invention is to provide an engine construction including means whereby to fully utilize, take up, and transmit the full torce of the expansion of the gases at the moment of explosion, and to transmit the same to a power shaft in such manner as to take much higher maxlmum .leverage with minimum strain upon the driven `and connecting parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide anv internal combusti'on engine of the opposed piston ltype having novel and effestive connections between the pistons, and a power shaft including means by which the pistons are moved in Lone direction, and

'one of the pistons controlled during each cycle of operation between the explosions.

With these and other objects, residing for the most part lin the means employed in carrying out the above, my invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement and operation to be now described with respectto the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and wherein- Figure 1 is a' vertical sectional view through my improved engine;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and. partlyy in vertical section, taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

` 'Figs '4lto 8 inclusive are diagran'lmatic views illustrating the several cycles of oper ation of the engine shown 1nu Fig. l, l

,Referring now to these figures, and pan` specification of Letters Patent. Patented J une 25, 1918.

ticularly to Fig. 1, my invention contemplates the provision of an engine cylinder 15in the present instance, disposed vertically, as clearly seen, and open at both ends, with opposing upper and lower pistons 16 and 17, the inner ends of the connecting l rods of which are threaded into the pistons', as seen at 18, and locked in connection therewith by lock nuts l19.

The cylinder 15 `so disposed is mounted upon a bed plate 20, with its lower open end above an opening 21 in the' said bed plate, which latter is supported in elevated position by its depending sides 22, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and held at such height as to readily accommodate a crank case 24 beneath the bed plate. The depending connecting rod 25 of th lower piston l/drojects through the opening 21 of the bed plate just-above mentioned.,

and is provided at its lower extremity within the crank case with brackets 26 through which is extended a horizontally disposed pin 27 whose axis is at right angles to the axis of the connecting rod 25, and upon which are mounted rollers 28, 29, and 30, the bracket having at one side a depending extension 31 at the lower end of which is a laterally projecting pin 32 having thereon a roller 33. f

The upwardly projecting connecting rod 34 of the upper pistonv 16y extends dowin wardly. at the outside of the cylinder 15, as seen in Fig. 2, and is provided at its lower outer `end with an inwardly bent extension 3b `having a bracket 36 thereon, as seen in Fig. l, provided with a horizontal pin 37 disposed at right angles to the axis of thev rod 34, and `on which are journaled a plurality of rollers 38, 39, 10, and 41, the bracket 36 being somewhat similar in shape to the bracket 2G of the connecting rod 25kv and having at one side thereof opposite to the extension 31 of the bracket 26, an upwardly projecting side extension 42, at the upper end of which is a laterally projectingpin 43on which is a roller 44.

A power shaft 45 is journaled through bearings in the ends of the crank case 24, and also through bearings in the lower portions of extensions 4G depending from one side of the bed plate 20 within the crank case, and is provided at a central point with an elliptical cam 47 engaged at rela tively opposite sides by the rollers 29 and of the brackets 26 and 36. Journaled upon the shaft at relatively opposite sides ot' its central cam 47 are sleeves 48 and 49, the former of which is provided with an elliptical cam engaged at relatively opposite sides by rollers 28 and 39 of the brackets 26 and 36, and the latter of which is provided with an elliptical c am`\51 engaged at its relatively opposite sldes by the rollers 3() and 41 of the brackets 26 and 36,.

all as clearly seen in Fig. 1. lt will be noted that the rollers 29 and 40 engage relatively opposite faces of the lcam 47 as compared to the engagement of the rollers 28, 39, 30, and 41 with the cams 5() and 51, as seen by a con'iparison of Figs. 2 and, so that in the relative reciprocating movements of the brackets 26 and 36 witlr respect. to one another the operation of the engine, as hereinaft er described is accomplished. The rollers of the two brackets workbetweenthe inturn in meshwith bevel gears 56 and 57 gwardly.

tially half roundcam 58, sleeve `lt1 of the upper piston will at spaced points, so as` to thus rotatably couple the shaft 45 to the sleeves 48 and 49 so as to communicate to the shaft thepower transmitted to the cams 50 and 51 as well as the cam 47 secured directly to the Shaft.. 'lhe remainingl roller 3S of the bracket 36 in the upper piston 16, engages a substanseeured upon the 4S for a purpose which will be presently explained `in treating of the control of the. upper-'piston 16 during each cycle of" operation of the. engine.

llach of the extensions 31 and 42 of brackets 26 and 36 is slotted, as seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, to receive the shaft45 and the sleeves 48 and `4f), the roller 33 of extension 31 engaging a butterfly cam 59 secured upon the sleeve 4t), and the roller 44 of extension 42 engaging a wing shaped cam 6() carried by the sleeve 43.

Thus, in theI operation of the motor in so far'as the parts above described are concerned, and with these partis in position at the start,y of the power stroke, as seen in Fig. l and in the. diagram Fig. 4, the. force ol theexpanding fluid betweenthe pistons i 16 and 17 will cause the latter to move apart, the fermer upwardly,

and the latter down- '.llnxs, thewrollers Q8, 29, and 30 of the lower piston and the rollers 35), 40, and

move in relatively oppositdirections toward one anpossible with the crank and `said cams continuing y and 41 out to the cams major axis, rollers 28 other` and toward the power shaft 45, between the shaft driving cams 50, 47, and 51, forcing the cam 47 in one direction and the cams 50 and 51 in the other direction, through the connections between the sleeves 48 and 49 and the power shaft 45, causing moven'ient of the power shaft in one direction. In this manner, the full force 'of bhe exploded gases at the instant of explosion, is applied to the rotation of the power shaft, with considerably greater leverage than is pitman usually 1n use for this purpose, and, furthermore, this power is applied to the power shaft in such manner as to eliminate torsional stresses and strain and balance the same at all times.

The advantages accruing from this arrangement of cams for the operation thus consists in conserving and converting all of the elements of' power from the cylinder and applying the saine to the crank shaft in such manner as to derive the greatest benefit therefrom and a greater benefit than can possibly be derived through the usual crank and pitman connections. In Fig. 2 the cams 4 are shown with the rollers just starting between them at both ends wedgewise, and this action occurs practically at the instant of, and not after, combustion has taken place, so as to thereby exert the maximum force against the maximum leverage, which force and leverage decrease uniformly to the end of the power stroke.

The power stroke thus brings the pistons 16 and 17 to their outermost positions, as shown in the diagram Fig. 5, ready for the exhaust stroke, at which point the rollers 2S, 2t), 30, 39, 40, and 41, have arrived at the minor axis of the cams 47, 50 and 51, and to rotate, the ends opposite the beginning of the power stroke begin to come together, in a scissors-like action, squeezing the rollers 28, 29, 30, 39', 40,

n 2S), 30, carrying their bracket 26, connecting rod 25, and piston 17 upward to its inner position, rollers39, 46, 41, carrying their brackety 36, connecting rod 34, and piston 16, downward to its inner position, thus conlpleting the exhaust stroke. At the end of the exhaust stroke, the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 6, with the pistons 16 and 17 at the limits of their inward travel toward one another, and at this point the upper piston 16 is held by virtue of the engagement of the half round cam 58 with its roller 8S, so as to maintain the same in the position shown in the diagram Fig. 7, while the lower piston 17 is forced downwardly by the .opposite side of its butterfly cam 5t), on the suction stroke, the scissors like action of cams 47, 50, and 5/1, squeezing rollers 23, :'29 and 30 out, canfsing upward movementof the lower. piston ['17 to the position shown in Fig.

8, during the compression 1an the parts lbe exploded, the regular eycl'e of operations will still be proceeded with as before described, except that the cam 60 before referred tol as engaging the roller la of the bracket extension 12, will lift the upper piston 16 and thus maintain its bracket rollers in uniform contact with the operating cams 47, 50, and 51.

`The shaft Zl5 at one end, beyond one end of the cra-nk case 24, is preferably provided with the usual balance wheel 60, and, as shown` in Fig. 1, the cylinder 15 is provided at opposite sides of its central point, with laterally opening intake and exhaust ports 61 and 62, in casings 63 and 64, respectively communicating with the intake and exhaust manifolds 65 and 66, through valves 67 and 68 seated in thelower portions of the casings 63 and 64, with-their depending stems 69 and 70 normally held in lowermst position by springs 71 and `72. The stems 69 and depend through the bed plate 20, as seen at 73 in Fig. 1, and the lower extremities of the stems are provided witli rollers 74 and 75 with which cain tappets 76 and 77, respectively secured tothe sleeves 49 and 48, engage, so as to lift the valves 67` and 68 at the proper timem, In the upper portion of each of the intake and exhaust casings 63 and 64, is threaded an enlarged cover'78, by removal of which ready access may be had to the valves 67 and 68, and through these covers 78, are threaded spark plugs' v79, the leads 80 of which extend to a stationary contact inem ber 81 secured upon the upper surface of the b ed plate 20,'as shown in Fig. 1, above the upper end of a movable Yvertically disposed Contact rod 82, having a roller 83 at its'lower end for engagement with a cam tappet 84 lwhich, 'at the proper time, elevates the coiitact rod 82 into Contact with the stationary memberSl, and thus `closes the circuitof 'the spark plugs, so that sparks will be supplied' at both-sides of the combustion space,

and effective'ignition of the charge secured,

it being noted that the timer is fixed in the present instance, so that the explosion will always occur in properly timed relation with 'respect to the position of the bracket rollers in connection with the cams 47, 50, and 51.

The' lower portion of the crank case 24 forms a storage space for lubricating oil, and within the lower portion of said crank case is disposed a small oil pump ii'ieliiding a cylinder 85 having an intake 86 opening into the lower portion of the crank case, and an outlet connected with an oilA supply pipe 87, the piston 88 of the pump having its stem 89, as seen in Fig. 1, connected withan eccentric actuated by the sleeve 49, in

order that a continuous supply of oil will be guide openings in n forced outwardly through the oil supply l pipe 87 during operation of the motor. The upper end of the oil supply pipe 87 extends around the cylinder 15, and communicates therewith by means of a plurality of branches91, as seen in Fig. 1, which branches are let into the cylinder 15 in a horizdntal i plane at a point between the limits of upward and downward movementof the upper ,piston 16, so'that the branches 91 will be closed by the upper piston at all times, allowing only sufficient oil to enter the cylinder to 4 lubricate the upper piston 16, the lower-piston 17 being lubricated by the splash from the crank case 24. The oil returns to the crank case through an oil `return pipe 92, which is preferablyprovided with a cut-01T valve 93,

as seen in Fig. l, in order that the backjiow of oil may be considerably checked, 'and' times.

Referring again to' Figs. 1 and 2, and'parl ticularly to the latter, IV provide iimproved air cooling means, consisting, of a radiator casing which completely surrounds the sof cylinder, and seats upon theI bed plate 20,

spring catches 101, as seen particularly in Fig. 2, being utilized for the purpose` or' holding this casing in position. The cafsing 100 so'disposed, is open at one end for lthe reception of air currents from aV suitable fan, not shown, and the casing is otherwise closed except for an opening 102 in its top 103, located above cylinder.

Thus, with these features and those lbefore described, it may be readily seen that I provide in improved motor of `thetype, and for the purpose setforth, which will be effective and efficient in use, economical in upkeep, durable, out the objects first above mentioned.

I claimzy l. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination of a working cylinder, opposedl cured to saidshaft at an intermediate point,'

a pair of sleeves rotatable upon said shaft at opposite sides of said cam, and having geared connections with the shaft, a cam carried lby each sleeve, rollers carried by said brackets and engaging relatively opposite sides of said shaft and, sleeve cams, andmeans carand one readily capable of carryingried by said sleeves for moving the pistons in one direction and controlling the lsame in such movement.

2. Tn 4an internal combustion engine, thel combination of a working eylinderopposed pistons therein, having depending 'piston rods, brackets carried by said rods and movable toward and away from one another, af

l powershaft,between said braekets. a eam se eared to said shaft at an intermediate point. a pair of sleeves rotatable nponsald shal't' at, opposite sides otsaid eam, and having' portion of each eyele of movement oll the,

other piston. y v

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a workingr c vlinder. opposed pistons therein harinaf depending;r piston rods, brackets carried b v said rodsl and movn able toward and away from one another, a. power Shaft. between said brackets, a. eam Secured to Said shaft'l at an intermediate. point, a pair of sleeves rotatable upon said Shaft at. opposite Sides of said cam, and having geared connections with the shaft. a eam carried by each sleeve., rollers carried by said brackets and eingragging.r relatively opposite sides of saidsliaft and sleeve cams, cams earried by said sleeves for moving said pistons inI one direction, a cani carried by one ot' said sleeves for checking movement of one of said pistons during a portion of each cycle of movement of theother piston, and rollers carried byA said brackets and engaging said last mentioned sleeve cams.

, 4. In an internal combustion engine. the combination of a -worlking cylinder, opposed pistons therein, having: dependingpiston rods, brackets carried b v said rods and movable toward and away lrom one another, a power shaft between said braekets, a eam secured to said shaft. at an intermediate point, a pair of sleeves rotatable npon said Sbaftat opposite sides of said eain and` havint reared connections with the sha'tt. a eam Carried by each of said sleeves, rollers earried by said brackets and engaging said shaft. andsleeve cams, cams carried by said sleeves for4 moving: said pistons in one direction, a cani carried by oneof said sleeves for controlling inoveinent of one otl said pistons, and rollers carriedliby said brackets and 4 engraglging said lastv mentioned sleeve cams,

'5.In`y ,an internal combustion engine, the combination ot' a working cylinder, opposed pistone* therein, a power shaft, ,and connectionsfbetween 'said pistons and said power shaft. including.r piston actuated cams eonneeted to the power shaft. piston retnrninlLr cams also connected to the, power shaft. and means lor checking movement ol' one of said pistons dnrinLr a portion ot each evele oi movement oll the other piston.

(i. ln. an internal combustion engine, the combination oi' a working cylinder. opposed pistonsI therein. a power shaft. and eonneetions between said pistons and said power shai't inelndiirer piston actuated eams earried by the power shai't. certain oll which are sernred to said shatt` and slet-res ontho sha l't to which the other eams are. eonneeted. having; geared eonneetion with the shaft.

7. ln an.internal eombnstion engine, the combination ol' a workin;r cylinder, opposed. pistons therein. a power shal't, sleeves rotatable on the shat't and feared thereto. a pistoii actuated eam seenred to the shaft'. be.- tween said sleeves. piston actuated cams seenred on the. sleeves at opposite sides ol the shaft'` eam, and cam actuatingrollers carried by and movable with the said pistons. and extent'liirer between the said shaft and sleeve ealns.

o'. ln an internal combustion engine. the combination -with a workingr eylinder` 'opposed pistons therein. a power sha1't,'a pair oi cams geared to the power shaft, a cam Seenred to the shaft'. and movable in a direetion opposite to the first cams, and cam actuating means carried by and movable with the said pistons and ext ending betaveen the. said first and second cams.

t). ln an internal eonibnstiof'tl'igine, .the combination of a working cylinder, a pis-- ton therein, a power'sbaft, a pair o' rams rotatable on and geared to the said power sha t't, a cam secured to the power sha'l't. between said l'irst named cams, and movable in a direction opposite thereto, and cani actuating.,r means carried by said piston and movable between the said rstl and second cams, v

10. In an internal combustionengine, the, combination ot a. workingr cylinder, opposed pistons therein, a power shaft, cams con- 

